Cleveland Indians Notes: Carlos Santana finds home at first base

Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana tosses the ball to first base after fielding a ground ball on a ground ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta during the eighth inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, in Phoenix. The Indians defeated the Diamondbacks 6-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

It took a while, but Lonnie Chisenhall finally has enough plate appearances to be included among the hitting leaders in the American League.
At the start of play July 10 Chisenhall ranked fifth in the league in hitting (.325). He leads the league in road batting average (.360), is second with a .364 batting average with runners in scoring position, seventh in on base percentage (.386), and ninth in slugging percentage (.522).
Chisenhall hit the national scene on June 9 with his 5-for-5, 3-homer, 9 RBI night in Texas. Following that game Chisenhall was hitting .385 with 7 home runs and 32 RBI in 161 at bats.
In 88 at bats over 24 games since then, Chisenhall is hitting .216 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI.
“Lonnie deserves a lot of credit,” said Manager Terry Francona. “Last year he was given the (third base) job in spring training and played his way out of the job. This year he was given nothing, but he did such a good job when he did get a chance to play, and showed such an incredible work ethic. Now it’s hard not to play him.”
Who’s on first?
Carlos Santana has made several outstanding defensive plays at first base in recent games. After struggling at third base, Santana seems to have found a home at first base.
“I think all the work he did at third base made him much more active at first base,” said Francona. “He’s been all over the place.”
Santana has gone from being the Indians’ catcher, to third base, to designated hitter, and now to first base.
“He doesn’t like to DH, which I totally understand,” Francona said. “But he’s playing really well at first base.”
Will Santana ever catch again?
“I would never say that,” Francona said. “But we were really fortunate when we got Gomer (Yan Gomes), and that Gomer has turned into the player he’s become.”
Touch of class
Prior to Derek Jeter’s last scheduled game in Progressive Field, Francona, Indians president Mark Shapiro and Tribe players and former Jeter teammates on the Yankees Jason Giambi and Nick Swisher presented Jeter with a portrait of him made out of Legos showing him hitting his first major-league home run, at Progressive Field on opening day in 1996.
The Indians also presented Jeter with a Les Paul-Gibson pinstriped electric guitar, bearing Jeter’s uniform No.2.
Notes
Jeter entered the game July 10 needing one more double for 535 for his career, which would break the all-time Yankee record for career doubles held by Lou Gehrig. ... The Indians will conclude the homestand with a three-game series with the White Sox, leading into the All-Star break. The pitching matchups: July 11 at 7:05 p.m. Corey Kluber (8-6, 2.86) vs. Hector Noesi (3-5, 4.13). July 12 at 3:05 p.m. Zach McAllister (3-4, 5.89) vs. Scott Carroll (3-5, 4.52). July 13 at 1:05 p.m. Trevor Bauer (3-4, 4.23) vs. John Danks (8-6, 4.15).